Hunt 41 is delivered by the 3-captain team: Matt Huckaby (founder), Kris Stoneburner, and Mitch Weaver. Three captains means collective expertise, multiple boats running simultaneously when needed, and redundancy if one captain is unavailable. Most operators are solo guides - the 3-captain delivery is part of why Hunt 41 is priced where it is.

What species can I target on Hunt 41?

Hunters must select their target species at the time of booking. Available species include: Common Goldeneye, Greater Scaup (Bluebill), Lesser Scaup (Bluebill), Common Merganser, Red-Breasted Merganser, and Bufflehead. Red-Breasted Merganser is the most-requested species - Lake Erie holds the largest U.S. population.

How is the hunt structured?

3-day minimum collector hunt package. Hunters may select up to three (3) target species with the 3-day package. Additional hunt days may be added at the time of booking to extend your trip. 4-day or longer hunts allow hunters to target one additional species (up to four total).

How much does Hunt 41 cost and why?

3-day collector package: $6,750 (up to 4 hunters per group). Additional days: $2,250 per day. Larger Group Add-On: +$3,375 to bring the trip up to 6 hunters total (selected as an add-on at booking, stacks on the 3-day package). $2,000 deposit holds the dates and is non-refundable. Pricing reflects the species specific commitment, the 3-captain team delivery, the trophy-quality drake focus, and the Lake Erie heritage. Comparable to Alaska remote trophy hunts at $6,500-$7,000 (plus $2,300 mandatory in-state charter and lower-48 flights, totaling $8,800-$10,000+ all-in per hunter) that require bush-plane access - but Hunt 41 is direct-flight to Cleveland (CLE) with no charter required.

What's included and what isn't?

Included: guide service, fully-blinded boats, decoys, scouting, species planning. NOT included: lodging (Port Clinton hotels recommended - Country Inn & Suites, Sleep Inn), Ohio and federal license/stamps, ammunition, meals, and bird processing.

Is Hunt 41 a high-volume hunt?

No. This is not a high-volume hunt. Hunts focus on selective shooting, species identification, and trophy-quality drake selection. Designed for serious collectors and experienced waterfowl hunters. Limited availability to preserve hunt quality.

Hunt 41 — Lake Erie Species Specific Collector Hunt

About Hunt 41

The species specific collector hunt.

The Hunt 41 Waterfowl Collector's Package is designed specifically for dedicated waterfowl collectors seeking to harvest specific North American diving duck species for their personal collections. These are low-volume, highly focused hunts that prioritize species selection, quality drakes, and a true collector experience rather than high daily bird numbers.

Hunt 41 IS the specific-species hunt. A standard duck hunt at Huckeye is non-specific — you hunt what's flying that day. Hunt 41 is structured the opposite way: you tell us your target species at booking, and the trip is planned around that list.

This package is offered on a limited basis during November and December, with the season extended through January 10 for the 2026-27 season. Extremely limited availability.

Most Requested

Red-Breasted Merganser.

Lake Erie holds the largest U.S. population of Red-Breasted Mergansers — and they are, by a wide margin, the species Hunt 41 applicants ask for first.

Hard to find. Harder to harvest at trophy quality. The drake's cinnamon breast, dark green head, and serrated bill make it one of the most prized collector birds in North American waterfowling. We hunt them on the open water with full-blinded boats, where they raft up in the tens of thousands across the western basin during late season.

If a Red-Breasted is on your list, this is the place.

Hunt 41 collectors on Lake Erie holding a full line of Red-Breasted Merganser drakes taken on a species-specific collector hunt — Red-Breasted Mergansers — the Hunt 41 flagship

Target Duck Species

Hunters must select their target species at the time of booking.

Each 3-day collector package allows you to target up to three species from the list below. Extending to a 4-day package adds one more (four total).

Most Requested

Red-Breasted Merganser

The Hunt 41 flagship. Lake Erie holds the largest U.S. population. Cinnamon breast, serrated bill, hardest of the six to bring home at trophy quality.

Common Goldeneye

Distinctive white cheek patch, golden iris. Late-season open-water bird on Lake Erie.

Greater Scaup drake (Aythya marila) - Greater Bluebill, Hunt 41 target on Lake Erie open water rafts

Greater Scaup (Bluebill)

Larger of the two bluebills. Open-water raft hunter, peaks in the western basin.

Lesser Scaup drake (Aythya affinis) - Lesser Bluebill, often mixed with Greaters on Lake Erie

Lesser Scaup (Bluebill)

Faster, smaller cousin of the Greater. Often mixed in the same rafts.

Common Merganser

Striking green-headed drake with rusty-tipped breast. Late-season open water.

Bufflehead

Smallest of the six. Iridescent head, fast and tricky. Trophy-quality drake is its own challenge.

Hunt Structure

Three days minimum. Up to three species. Extend for one more.

3-day minimum collector hunt package
Hunters may select up to three (3) target species with the 3-day package
Additional hunt days may be added at the time of booking to extend your trip
4-day or longer hunts allow hunters to target one additional species (up to four total)

Each hunt is carefully planned around seasonal migration, weather conditions, and species-specific behavior to maximize opportunities at harvesting a mature, trophy-quality drake of your selected species.

Hunt Pricing

Pricing reflects the experience.

3-Day Collector Package

$6,750

Up to 4 hunters per group · up to 3 target species included

Additional Days

$2,250 / day

A 4-day extension allows one additional target species (4 total)

Larger Group Add-On

+ $3,375

Add hunters 5 and 6 to your trip · brings total group size up to 6 · selected as an add-on at booking

Large Group Additional Day

$3,375 / day

Per additional day for larger groups (5–6 hunters extending beyond the 3-day package)

$2,000 deposit holds the dates and is non-refundable. If the trip is cancelled due to weather, new dates will be selected.

What's included · What isn't

No surprises before you book.

Included in Hunt 41

Fully guided experience — led by our experienced Hunt 41 guide team
Private fully-blinded boats: 25' Duckwater, 24' Gatortrax, and 32' AAD custom — every boat in the fleet is rigged the same way
Decoys and rig setup
Pre-trip scouting on your target species
Species-species specific hunt planning around migration & weather

NOT included

Lodging (recommended: Country Inn & Suites or Sleep Inn in Port Clinton, OH)
Ohio hunting license, wetland stamp, HIP, federal duck stamp
Ammunition (bring non-toxic shot, #2s recommended)
Meals (pack a lunch and non-alcoholic drinks)
Bird processing (we can recommend a service)

Important Hunt Notes

What to know before applying.

This is not a high-volume hunt
Hunts focus on selective shooting and species identification
Designed for serious collectors and experienced waterfowl hunters
Trip windows: AM 6:00–11:00 or PM 1:00–5:00 (5 hours AM / 4 hours PM, or until limit reached)

Limited availability to preserve hunt quality.

Captain Matt Huckaby of Huckeye Charters - USCG 25-Ton Merchant Mariner Credential with 25 years on Lake Erie, founder of Huckeye Charters and the Hunt 41 collector experience — Captain Matt Huckaby · Hunt 41 Founder · USCG 25-Ton Merchant Mariner Credential

Hunt 41 captain team

Three captains. One hunt.

Hunt 41 isn't a one-captain show. It's delivered by the 3-captain team — collective expertise on Lake Erie's species specific fall window, multiple boats when groups need them, redundancy when conditions or schedules shift. Most outfitters are solo guides. Hunt 41 isn't.

Captain Matt founded Hunt 41 and still leads the program. Captain Kris and Captain Mitch are the two captains who run it alongside him.

Founder · Lead Captain Matt Huckaby

USCG 25-Ton Merchant Mariner Credential. 25 years chasing waterfowl and fish across Lake Erie. Founded Huckeye Charters LLC in 2018. Hunt 41 was Matt's concept — built from the species specific collector hunts he and his guides had been running for years before it was a package.

Hunt 41 Team Captain Kris Stoneburner

Captain Kris holds a valid 25-Ton Merchant Mariner Credential and FCC Marine Operator License. Captain Kris is no stranger to Lake Erie — he has been walleye fishing for 25 years and guiding waterfowl for quite some time alongside Captain Matt. With Captain Matt's training, Captain Kris is a valuable team member making for a great Hunt 41 Guide. Captain Kris not only guides Hunt 41 Packages, he also helps scout for birds, does the boat maintenance, and runs many other facets of the business.

Hunt 41 Team Captain Mitch Weaver

Captain Mitch holds a 25-Ton Merchant Mariner Credential. Lake Erie waterfowler and third captain on the Hunt 41 team. Adds capacity and a second boat option when groups want it — or extra scouting hands during the species specific fall window.

From the founder

Captain Matt, in his own words.

Captain Matt Huckaby has spent 25 years chasing waterfowl and fish across Lake Erie, and he still gets the same rush watching a flock cup wings into the decoys that he did the very first season he picked up a shotgun. In 2018, Matt took the leap and went commercial, founding Huckeye Charters LLC to share that obsession with others. Matt holds a USCG 25-Ton Merchant Mariner Credential — professionally credentialed hands every time you step on the boat. Hunt 41 is his concept: the species specific collector hunt he and his guides had been running for years before it was ever a package.

Submit Your Application

Begin the conversation.

Fill out the application below and one of the three captains will be in touch personally. If we have availability in your preferred window, Matt or one of the team will reach out directly to plan the hunt. Or call directly: 937-470-3517.

Full name Email

Phone State / Country of residence

Hunting experience & species already collected Target species you're looking to add (up to 3 for the 3-day package) Party size (how many hunters total) Preferred window How did you hear about Hunt 41? Anything else we should know?